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His eyes are beautiful.
It was the first thought that spontaneously sprang to Lohen's mind at one point while he was relentlessly following his target. He'd been at it for several hours now, itching to finally get some action, but despite this insatiable thirst for a good battle... He remained patient. As patient as a wolf stalking its prey.
Still, those eyes were haunting him. Their color reminded him of those weird crystals he was already used to seeing scattered around the Favonius Keep in the North - vivid, radiant, and just the same hue of cornflower blue... Then there was also red in those irises. As if those gems they were resembling, were stained in blood. And Lohen liked it. A lot, actually.
When a while back he had decided he would seek out the famed youngest squad leader of the Lightkeepers to challenge him and put an end to his boredom caused by the lack of worthy opponents willing to take him, Lohen would never had thought the lad would turn out to be so... Captivating? The longer he watched him, the more it stirred something inside of him - something he had no idea how to put into words and name. It wasn't just his usual bloodlust. It was something more, something yet unfamiliar.
Why was this guy so fascinating?
Perhaps it was those damned eyes. Focused and careful, but at the same time, somehow soft. Softer than Lohen's own at least.
Or perhaps it was the lad's resilience and the persistent will to survive even in those harsh conditions of Northern Nod-Krai, where light was scarce - even more so at night which was still currently upon them - the warmth of the day but a memory amidst cold air of the upcoming dawn... He was almost like Winter Iceleas, withstanding the coldest depths of winter... It was a long way until the sun climbs the sky... And it would be dim and distant regardless. Yet, the young Lightkeeper didn't rest, even throughout the darkest of hours.
Bloody Pine Ambers and resilient Winter Iceleas. Lohen couldn't help but compare the man to those... Both holding a mysterious charm... Just as the Lightkeeper did.
The lad's actions, too, caught his attention. The circumstances were unusual. A Lightkeeper completely on his own in the wilderness... Walking around, at first glance aimlessly, and only with an old-fashioned lantern and a shining nightingale to keep him company.
However, Lohen had seen through it right away. It was most likely a scouting patrol. He'd witnessed people on such outings numerous times already, especially with the way his fellow knight responsible for reconnaissance missions, Mika, had usually worked - proceeding slowly with caution, mindful of the surroundings, nose buried deep in the ink covered maps, curious eyes all over the place - with a careful but never lingering gaze. Though, it had never been a lone expedition for him. Lohen had always been there for the surveying team Mika was part of to clear out the path from all the filth...
Why was this lad then on his own, when he was supposed to be the squad leader even? Usually, the Lightkeepers preferred to stick together, just like the Knights of Favonius. It was safer that way, given the dangers awaiting lone travelers in Nod-Krai's wilderness. Few were brave enough to depart at night without company.
Maybe this wasn't just any patrol? He could've been searching for something specific, just of unclear location. Knowing their organization, it should have been the Wild Hunt. There have been rumors circling around about a new permeation in the area... The idea of stumbling upon a fresh rift, grotesque monstrosities pouring from it, looking for their next prey... It got Lohen's blood boiling. He actually kind of wished to run into it, eventually... Even though for now he was simply waiting for an opportunity to take on the young Lightkeeper himself. Still, it would make for a good occasion to assess the guy's strength first. Then again, fighting him while he's already weary from another battle... It wouldn't feel quite right.
It seemed that the weird, lone expedition was going to end well for the Lightkeeper, with no signs of active Wild Hunt on their way, only traces of its past presence. Lohen recognized they were already on their way back south, towards Piramida.
Seeing the more familiar turf, he got too relaxed, too reckless and daring. However irresponsible it was of him, he couldn't resist those mesmerizing eyes and crept up close just to steal another glance at them. They rendered him completely unable to act... Until he realized they were no longer thoroughly scanning the surroundings - they were now staring back at him, aimed directly at where he was currently hiding.
"I know you've been following me. You can come out now." The lad's voice was slightly deeper than Lohen had expected and it had a nice ring to it. Calm and soft.
It caught him unguarded, he froze amongst the bushes he was hiding in. Yet those charming eyes never looked away, certain of his presence. He got lost in them for just a moment too long before he finally jumped out, sword already in his hand as he charged right at the man.
Illuga, was that his name? Lohen had heard other knights from the expedition say that despite his age, he was hella strong, having survived even in the most hopeless of situations. And now, from up close, he did look the part. He was young, his face still slightly rounded and plump, but his body, though on the smaller side, was defined just enough to hide immense power and it also bore marks of the enemies he had defeated - scars peeking out from his turtle neck sweater.
A shame Lohen did not have the time to admire him longer...
Why the hell did he even want to admire the guy? He was there to fight, not stare.
They clashed. The Lightkeeper reacted immediately - his eyes blown wide in surprise, but the polearm was there in his hands, ready to respond to the sudden danger.
There were no more questions asked, no words exchanged, just strikes. Only metallic sounds of their weapons meeting repeatedly, grunts and loud rushed breaths were breaking the dead silence of the upcoming dawn.
The way the young Lightkeeper fought was different from what Lohen was used to when facing his fellow knights during spars. There was no excessive expression, no refined, elegant moves that resembled a dance - it wasn't the swordsmanship of a knight. Each strike was simple - practical and powerful, driven by the sheer determination to stay alive. This was how people fought when life was at stake and no one was there to judge the style. And oh, did it excite Lohen to finally battle someone who was this skilled, not just polished by practicing the same moves over and over for countless days. The Lightkeeper was rough in his strength, it came from experience and the necessity to fend for himself with maybe a shred of some innate capabilities.
Lohen took an instant liking to this fighting style, to how his own blows were parried at the very last moment, counterattacks sudden and unexpected - not learned nor even measured but purely instinctive.
Neither of them held back and so they went even, each reclaiming ground right after it had been taken away. Despite being out of breath so soon, Lohen still laughed loudly, enjoying the exercise - the extortion slowly taking tool on his muscles, the threat of an actual duel to the death, the adrenaline rush overcoming his body and making him exceed his own limits.
He honestly hadn't had this much fun since coming to Nod-Krai... And even earlier - he couldn't remember the last time he was so fired up.
In the heat of the battle, focused solely on his lone opponent, he almost missed the movement at the corner of his eye. If not for the flames burning a vivid shade of magenta, he wouldn't had noticed.
They were supposed to be alone, no wonder both let their guards down for any outside interference that seemed almost impossible... Yet despite all odds, they were in fact interrupted. The Wild Hunt somehow found them at the worst possible moment. And, drew close too fast to allow for a swift reaction from the fighting two.
As the nightmarish hand reached out for the Lightkeeper from his behind, claws scratching his cheek, Lohen leapt forward and plunged his sword deep in the burning flesh of the monster that had once been a human. For the knight, it mattered little what had this creature used to be. He acted instinctively. He pushed Illuga aside and stood between the man and the danger, his heart racing, pulse beating loud in his eardrums.
He had been fighting those twisted mutants for days now, but this time he was still ecstatic from the spar. The horde was exceptionally huge too - more of those wretched things incoming from the direction the nearest cliff hindered their view. He couldn't hold back a chuckle, his agitated laugh rang out loudly.
This was it. The challenge he'd wished for.
Forgetting the exhaustion from the blows exchanged with Illuga, he cut and cut through the monsters relentlessly - his form lacking elegance, just pure blood lust speaking through his moves.
He barely registered the Lightkeeper quickly joining and fighting at his side, covering him with quiet determination.
The nightingale was lighting up the battlefield for them as they were slicing through the Wild Hunt, putting its miserable existence to a merciful end.
Soon just the biggest of the horde was still standing tall. It took more than a few blows to finish it, its strength and resistance remarkable but not enough to turn the battle around. Before it fell though, with the last of its strength, the monster swung his arm and sent Lohen flying right towards Illuga.
The two bumped into each other, unexpected weight hitting the Lightkeeper so suddenly made him lose his ground as a result. They rolled around in the dirt from the impact, before finally coming to a stop. Lohen ended up on top, their bodies pressed together for a brief moment until he instinctively pushed himself up on his arms to put some distance between them. His face was burning from the unexpected closeness, the warmth of another body still lingering on his own.
The time stood still for a moment as he gazed into those cornflower blue eyes, and watched the slightly parted lips, so temptingly plush. Right next to them, a small cut remained from the earlier attack, bright red blood smeared on the cheek. This sight had Lohen mesmerized. He was still hot and turned-on from the fight, but this kind of excitement was completely new, different... He felt... Oddly weak and vulnerable. As if he was the defeated one, not the Wild Hunt.
What the heck was wrong with him?
They shared air, both out of breath and reluctant to stand up - muscles weak as the adrenaline was slowly dying down. Their eyes remained locked until Lohen spoke up first.
"You're hurt." He pointed out dumbly.
"Oh, yes, I am, thanks to you." The Lightkeeper wasn't hiding his annoyance. Despite the overwhelming exhaustion, his body remained tense, ready to protect himself. "If you didn't jump at me and attacked me out of nowhere I would've sensed the danger. Obviously, I could've got hurt by you, too."
"You wouldn't. You fought well. I got a bit too serious but I never intended to hurt you." Lohen shook his head. His hand reached out to the fresh cut on Illuga's check, thumb tracing the injury softly and wiping away blood. The man underneath froze, clearly unsure what to expect.
It was an impulse, but Lohen brought his finger up to his face and licked away the ichor. The metallic taste as he swallowed made his breath hitch, heart picking up its pace. It was good, better than his own.
"You're really something else..." Illuga was at a loss of words, his eyes looking away, embarrassed and surprised at the same time by the gentle touch. "What's your problem anyway, picking fights with random people?"
"I just like fighting strong guys and I've heard you're good." Lohen stood up, not entirely aware of the impression his unusual action had left.
"Well, what's your verdict then?" The Lightkeeper was slightly curious, to the point he disregarded the absurdity of this situation. At least for the time being.
"You're good." He admitted, holding out his hand for Illuga to grab after he'd brushed off the dust from his clothes. "I'm Lohen, by the way. Vice-Captain of the 5th Squad of the Knights of Favonius."
Illuga hesitated for a moment as he sat up.
"Well, can't say I'm not flattered to hear it from a knight... But still, you should have just asked me for a spar." Ultimately, he decided to accept help, their hands meeting with a loud clap. " You probably already know who you I am, but I'm Illuga, captain of the Lightkeeper's investigation squad." He scanned Lohen with his eyes. "Now, are you hurt anywhere?"
"No, I'm fine." Lohen shivered under such scrutiny, those beautiful irises watching him intensely. He had no reason to get all flustered, but somehow he did, his cheeks burning a little. Maybe he simply wasn't used to others worrying for him? This guy seemed to be very caring, even towards someone he'd barely met... "I've been on my own fighting those monsters for days now. Since you are hurt though and I'm the one responsible, I have no choice but to escort you to Piramida. You're heading that way, right?"
He didn't want to part yet. He wasn't hoping for continuation of their fight, but... The wound also did make him feel a tiny bit guilty... It had never been his intention to actually hurt this man.
Besides... He kind of took a liking to Illuga already. He couldn't explain it, but it seemed that they could get along well.
"Yes, I am, but there's no need for you to come along. It's just a scratch, not even that deep." Illuga politely declined, shaking his head.
Yet, Lohen was not so easily swayed. Once he decided to do something, he would do it no matter what. That's just how stubborn he was.
"Allow me." He pushed harder, but still tactfully, with a smile that was just a tiny bit more gentle than his usual, cocky one.
"...Alright, if you insist. Just don't try to attack me again." Though Illuga sighed, he reluctantly agreed - his gaze sharp, warning he was not going to tolerate another sneaky attempt at his life.
"Fine, I won't, I won't. There's no fun fighting when we're both worn out anyway." Lohen shrugged, trying to play it cool despite his heart skipping a beat from the way the other man was looking at him with those pretty eyes. He honestly had no idea what was happening to him... It was somewhat similar to the excitement of a good battle - the same kind of funny feeling in his stomach and pulse picking up. The only thing being, there was no threat currently and they were done fighting each other for the time being. There was also heat pooling in his lower abdomen... He'd experienced it before, when facing a particularly challenging opponent, but there was no reason to get so worked up now... Seriously, something was very wrong with him today.
"A moment then, I'll just mark this place for future investigation..." Illuga, most likely oblivious to his companion's internal struggles, took out a map and a notepad and carefully wrote down his observations while looking around for landmarks. He finally looked more relaxed, no longer wary of getting attacked.
Lohen watched him bit down on his lower lip, absorbed by the task at hand. He was fascinated by the sight, wondering if the intensity with witch the teeth were sinking into the plump, pinkish lip will be enough to draw blood... And, if it was soft and warm if they kissed...
He was going insane.
"So, you were looking for the new permeation." It was more of a statement, he was just trying to distract his mind from those weird, intrusive thoughts and his made up scenarios. They. Would. Not. Kiss.
"Yeah. By the amount of those monstrosities attacking us I assume it's somewhere around here... I'll get some backup and come back later to seal it." Illuga seemed to be finished with noting the coordinates and their eyes met again, giving Lohen shivers. He almost felt like he'd been caught at doing something bad... This was getting ridiculous, there was no reason to be flustered now of all times.
As if he wasn't agitated enough, Illuga also smiled. His expression was so sweet and soft Lohen almost melted internally. No, he didn't want this man to get hurt, he couldn't let it happen. Not by his hand, and definitely not by any monstrosity.
"Need a hand? I promise, I won't turn on you next time. I'm not that crazy." He offered, brushing aside his feelings for the time being.
"Heh." Illuga laughed, his voice more cheerful now. "Normally I wouldn't ask a civilian to risk their life, but since you're no mere civilian..."
"Well, I'm usually out fighting the Wild Hunt anyway, might as well join you sometimes." Lohen nodded, honestly happy for more opportunities to fight alongside someone he instantly liked. He didn't mind being alone, actually he viewed others as a hindrance for the most part... This time however, he was very willing to make an exception.
They turned towards Piramida and began their way back, exchanging glances as they continued the conversation.
The two chatted away the rest of their journey back to the Lightkeeper's headquarters. Although Lohen was usually not that talkative, he quickly learned that engaging in even the most trivial of conversations came naturally with Illuga. Both had previously been acquainted with each other's organizations, but they now had the opportunity to exchange some more insightful details about their daily duties and routines.
Lohen was also quite curious about the golden bird that had been helping them fight. The creature was too shy to approach, instead flying as it pleased - sometimes joining them nearby, sometimes taking off to the distance only to return later. He was informed that even though it had grown attached to Illuga, it was not exactly what one would call a pet. It remained much more independent despite choosing to accompany the young Lightkeeper.
After they'd ran out of the more serious topics, they simply shared remarks on the weather or the surroundings, hardly ever falling into a complete silence.
The entire time Lohen couldn't keep his eyes away, always stealing sneak glances at Illuga, admiring his - surprisingly for his size - strong frame and the scar on his neck that was partially visible under the sweater. Occasionally, their gazes met, making him retreat quickly, his cheeks flushed each time for a reason he could not fully comprehend. He wasn't doing anything bad, just looking at someone he was having a conversation with, yet he felt weirdly awkward about it.
Piramida grew closer and it was time for them to part ways. Lohen had no business there and wanted to return to the Favonius Keep to catch a rare break before meeting up again for the promised Wild Hunt extermination.
As he was about to leave, Illuga stopped him - his arms crossed and an amused smirk on his face as he gave Lohen a knowing look.
"By the way, you didn't have to go this far to ask me out." He confronted.
He didn't appear to be mad about it, quite the contrary... He seemed... Content... And maybe, just maybe he was enjoying the impact his words made on Lohen.
The knight froze, his mouth open agape, cheeks suddenly burning hot.
"A-Ask you out?" He managed to stutter out, even though it was probably the most dumb response he could give.
"Yeah, you're being quite obvious, staring at me all the time." Illuga pursued, the corners of his lips twitching - he was holding back on laughing, but his expression was not mocking, he was rather... Pleased. As if he'd taken Lohen's fascination as a compliment.
This made Lohen even more flustered, he had believed he'd been discreet with his glances. Besides, there was no way he wanted to ask the man out. To ask anyone out for that matter. Unless, of course, a heated sparring session could be called a date. He had just been staring because he found Illuga strong, there was nothing more to it. No, wait. He had not been staring at all! He had simply been looking at him while keeping their conversation going.
"I-I'm not." He denied, although not very convincingly due to the way his face turned an intense shade of red, eyes this time avoiding Illuga's, reluctant to meet the man's confident gaze and see his cocky expression.
"Sure, totally not." Illuga rolled his eyes, arms crossed, completely not buying this. Then, to make matters worse, he added teasingly: "And you certainly didn't stalk me like a creep because you couldn't take your eyes off me." He made a pause before continuing in a more serious, but still light-hearted tone. "In case you do want a date, you can just drop by Piramida next time. We could continue our... spar? Maybe next time we won't get interrupted."
He smiled, and it was the most beautiful smile Lohen had ever seen. Soft and warm, but slightly provoking, and most importantly meant just for him... He was going to refuse, he didn't want to make himself even more of a fool after all... But he just couldn't say no.
He bit on his cheek, still a bit hesitant if he should accept the proposal.
"Well, if you're putting it that way... Can't refuse a proper fight..." He answered. "And for the record, I am not a creep."
"Of course you're not." This sounded like a tease more than an honest agreement. "Well then. See you soon, I suppose...? Lohen." Illuga leaned towards him with a playful smirk, his slightly rushed breath tickling Lohen's skin... The same skin on the cheek he gave a quick peck a moment later, making it go madly red.
Lohen's brain short circuited. Not only was Illuga's voice so soft - intimately hushed when he called out his name at the end, but also the closeness... The plush, warm lips, the earthy smell mixed with fresh pine fragrance and suffocating scent of fur...
Lohen had kissed before, even made out sloppily after he'd had a few drinks too many, head heavy and not thinking straight. However, it had never had such an effect on him - he cared little about love, romance and such, battle was all he craved. Yet, this innocent gesture just now had him completely still and frozen as he stumbled with his words. "Yeah... See you..."
He felt funny in his stomach and slightly light-headed when he watched the other man already slowly walking away.
Illuga, heading towards Piramida that was towering over the land in the distance, chuckled under his breath and looked back behind his shoulder. Their eyes met one last time.
"You're cute. Absolutely and utterly unhinged, but cute."